Antenna polarization correcting means for backpack radios

ABSTRACT

A spring mounting for a vertically polarized antenna provides vertical antenna orientation when the radio bearer is in prone position. A tension strap affixed to the antenna mount utilizes the shifting weight of the backpack radio set to urge the antenna into vertical orientation when the bearer is in upright position.

v United States Patent Inventor Harris A. Stover Cedar Rapids, Iowa Appl. No. 47,484 Filed June 18, 1970 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Assignee Collins Radio Company Cedar Rapids, Iowa ANTENNA POLARIZATION CORRECTING MEANS FOR BACKPACK RADIOS 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 343/702, 343/718, 343/900 Int. Cl H0lq 1/12, H0lq l/24 Field of Search 343/702, 718, 900, 908

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,523,296 8/1970 Vliegenthardt 343/718 OTHER REFERENCES Weather Testing Walkie-Talkies; Radio News, p. 32, Oct. 20, 1950; copy 343- 718 Primary Examiner-Eli Lieberman Attorneys-Richard W. Anderson and Robert J. Crawford ABSTRACT: A spring mounting for a vertically polarized antenna provides vertical antenna orientation when the radio bearer is in prone position. A tension strap affixed to the antenna mount utilizes the shifting weight of the backpack radio set to urge the antenna into vertical orientation when the bearer is in upright position.

PATENTED URI 51% F I G.

F I G 3 INVENTOR.

HARRIS A. srovsn 4/" aha/(Mk AGENT ANTENNA POLARIZATION CORRECTING MEANS FOR BACKPACK RADIOS This invention relates generally to radio antennae and more particularly to an improved orientation means for a backpack radio vertically polarized antenna.

The military radioman who carries a radio pack set in combat conditions must have his equipment designed for maximum convenience when he is functioning under enemy fire. Like every other military man operating under enemy fire, his risk of becoming a casualty is increased by each additional inconvenience which he must overcome. The present invention describes one inconvenience related to pack set radios and a means for minimizing this inconvenience.

Most pack set radios used in military applications use vertically polarized antennaeusually of a whip type. When operated from a relatively fixed and permanent location, the set will be removed from his back and placed on the ground or some other resting place for operation. However, when operating under conditions requiring mobility such as when on patrols, the radio will frequently be operated while strapped to the radiomans back. This operation is normally from a standing or sitting position. However, when under enemy fire, it often becomes very desirable to operate the radio when in a prone position. In order to maintain the correct antenna polarization when changing from standing to prone positions, the antenna lrnust be moved. In some cases it is very difficult for the radioman to reach behind his back to change the position of the antenna. With some radios he may be forced to remove the radio from his back to change the antenna position. This certainly constitutes an inconvenience which could contribute to his becoming a casualty.

The object of the present invention is the elimination of this problem and is featured in supplying the pack set radio with an antenna which is spring loaded to the correct position for operating the radio when the radioman is in the prone position. The basic spring load mounted antenna is supplemented with an insulated strap that would extend over the shoulder of the radio operator for attaching to his pack harness in front of his shoulder by means of which a further object of automatic polarization connection may be realized.

- These and other features and objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying'drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the antenna orientation for prone position of the bearer;

FIG. 2 illustrates the antenna orientation for erect position of the bearer; and

FIG. 3 is a detail of carrier harness and actuator adjustment means.

As suggested by the above-defined objects of this invention, the antenna would be mounted to the backpack radio by a spring-loading means such that the antenna would be loaded to the correct upright position for operating the radio when the radioman is in the prone position. A tension strap which will be further described may be manually adjusted for proper tension against the spring-loading means to change the antenna orientation for standing or upright operating positions.

FIG. 1 illustrates a backpack radio which might be carried upon the back of a radio bearer by a harness means (not illustrated). The antenna 11 is mounted to the radio 10 by means of a spring means 12 which in its normal unloaded position efi'ects a generally vertical orientation of the antenna 11 when the bearer is in prone position. As depicted in FIG. I, a

strap member 13 may be attached to the antenna spring mounting means 12 and over the shoulder of the bearer.

FIG. 2 illustrates the radio bearer in a standing position wherein a predetermined tension on shoulder strap 14 applies a deflecting force to the spring mounting means 12 so as to raise the antenna 11 to a vertical position with respect to.the ground.

With reference to FIG. 3 the partial detail of a carrying harness 15 to which the radio set 10 might be mounted for orientation on the back of the bearer might be provided with a series of snap members 17 extending down from the bearers shoulder by means of which a mating snap member 16 carried on the end of the shoulder strap 14 may be selectively attached to permit a strap length adjustment. Alternatively, the adjustment might be made by adjusting the length of the strap with the strap end fixed at a point on the harness. By tightening the strap the operator may pull the springloaded antenna into a vertical position when he is standing or sitting. By loosening the strap the spring will be permitted to return the antenna to the correct position for vertical polarizationwhen he is prone.

Although the description so far has suggested a series of snaps or other expedient for manually positioning the antenna when changing from standing to prone, any means of applying the desired tension to the strap at the right time will perform the desired antenna positioning. Thus the strap may be designed such that the shifting weight of the radio will perform the necessary repositioning of the antenna when the radio operator changes from a standing or sitting position to a prone position. In FIG. I the soldier is lying prone with the weight of the radio supported by his back and very little of the weight of the radio 10 tending to exert a pressure to cause the radio to move toward his feet (no tension in shoulder strap 13). The spring 12 at the base of the antenna 11 has a normal position as shown in FIG. I and will tend to return to this position at all times. The spring tension would be such as to help overcome any slight tension in the shoulder strap 13 when the soldier is in the prone position of FIG. 1.

When the soldier stands as shown in FIG. 2, the entire weight of the radio will be toward the ground, i.e., toward the soldier's feet (tension on shoulder strap 13). The radio 10 will be entirely supported by the harness l5 and as the weight of the radio pulls it toward his feet, the shoulder strap 14 will become taut and will put the antenna into the position shown. Thus by properly designing the harness IS, the weight of the radio 10 can be made to automatically reposition the antenna 11 to the correct position when changing from a prone position to a vertical position and vice versa.

The spring tension may be selected so that it will not be overcome by the component of force A toward the soldier's feet (FIG. I) when he is in a prone position. However, tension must be such as to be overcome by the component of force toward the soldiers feet (the weight of the radio 10) when he is in a vertical position as in FIG. 2.

Whether the system is used for automatically repositioning the antenna as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or by a simple manual adjustment of a strap length as by a snap on the shoulder strap as in FIG. 3, it will relievethe soldier of an unnecessary inconvenience when he must operate the radio from either prone or vertical positions.

Although this invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment. thereof, it is not to be so limited, as changes might be made therein which fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Mounting means for a vertically polarized antenna, said antenna being mounted on a radio set carried on the back of a bearer, said mounting means communicating with said antenna and said radio set and being adapted to substantially verti cally orient said antenna with said bearer in a prone position and being responsive to shifting weight of said radio setvto orient said antenna to a substantially vertical position with said bearer in an upright position.

2. Mounting means as defined in claim I wherein said mounting means comprises spring means normally biasing said antenna to substantially vertical orientation with said bearer in prone position and means associated with said mounting means to exert a predetermined tension on said mounting means to deform said spring means for orienting said antenna to a substantially vertical position with said bearer in an upright position.

3. Antenna mounting means as defined in claim 2 wherein said tension exerting means comprises a strap member one end of which is affixed to said antenna mounting means and on the front of said bearer, said strap member comprising a second snap fastening member for mating engagement with a selected one of said first snap fastening means.

6. Mounting means as defined in claim 4 wherein said strap member comprises a fixed end termination on the front of said bearer and further comprising means to selectively adjust the length of said strap thereby effecting said selective adjustment of strap tension. 

1. Mounting means for a vertically polarized antenna, said antenna being mounted on a radio set carried on the back of a bearer, said mounting means communicating with said antenna and said radio set and being adapted to substantially vertically orient said antenna with said bearer in a prone position and being responsive to shifting weight of said radio set to orient said antenna to a substantially vertical position with said bearer in an upright position.
 2. Mounting means as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises spring means normally biasing said antenna to substantially vertical orientation with said bearer in prone position and means associated with said mounting means to exert a predetermined tension on said mounting means to deform said spring means for orienting said antenna to a substantially vertical position with said bearer in an upright position.
 3. Antenna mounting means as defined in claim 2 wherein said tension exerting means comprises a strap member one end of which is affixed to said antenna mounting means and the other end of which is carried over the shoulder of said bearer for attachment to substantially fixed anchoring means.
 4. Mounting means as defined in claim 3 wherein anchoring means includes means for selective adjustment of tension on said radio strap for predetermined prone and upright positions of said bearer.
 5. Mounting means as defined in claim 3 wherein said anchoring means comprises a plurality of first snap fastening members carried in substantially vertical spaced disposition on the front of said bearer, said strap member comprising a second snap fastening member for mating engagement with a selected one of said first snap fastening means.
 6. Mounting means as defined in claim 4 wherein said strap member comprises a fixed end termination on the front of said bearer and further comprising means to selectively adjust the length of said strap thereby effecting said selective adjustment of strap tension. 